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Lewiston Elementary
May 2024
If your child is going to be absent, please call the Lewiston Office before 8:00am to let us know. When leaving a message, be sure to leave your child's name and the reason for their absence.
- Our doors open at 7:40am
- Students arriving after 8:00am will be marked late. Late students must be walked in and signed in by an adult.
- Students missing 60 minutes or more in the morning will be marked absent for the AM.
- Students missing 60 minutes or more in the afternoon will be marked absent for the PM.
- Please provide a doctor's note when absences are due to an appointment. These will always be excused.
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact the office at 608-742-2524. Thank you!
May
6: PTO Meeting in Mrs. Kibby's room - 5:00 PM (Google Meet Option)
7: David Stokes, Animal Enthusiast 1:30-2:30 PM, Lewiston Gym
9: 4th Graders visiting Capitol & Governor’s Mansion (bus leaves at 8:50 AM)
10: Early Release
16: 4/5 Field Trip to the Mackenzie Center (Bus leaves at 8:15 AM)
17: Early Release
17: Last day to check out books from the library
22: Field Trip Day
- Grades 3-5 to Olbrich Gardens (bus leaves at 8:30)
- Grades K-2, Henry Vilas Zoo & Olbrich Gardens (bus leaves at 8:15)
23: Early Release
24: Early Release
24: All books due back to the library
27: No School - Memorial Day
31: Full Day Friday
30: 3/4 to Indian Agency House and Surgeon’s Quarters (Bus leaves at 11:15 AM)
June
6: 5th Grade Graduation 1:00 - 2:00 PM
7: Last Day Of School/End of the Year Celebration/Early Release
Lost and Found
Our lost and found continues to grow. Before the end of the year, please stop by and check for your students clothing. Thank you!
ABC Countdown!
Archimedes Math Meet
On Tuesday, April 9th, eight 5th graders and eight 6th graders travelled to Deerfield to participate in the Archimedes Math meet. Jayden and Luke, from Lewiston, were 2 of the 5th graders competing. Our teams didn't place this year, but they were very competitive and had fun trying to answer very difficult math questions. A 5th grader from John Muir received the top score out of our 5th and 6th graders and a 6th grader from BMS was the second highest scorer in our group.
Your Vision and Novelty & Cosmetic Makeup
Warm weather celebrations are right around the corner. Here are safe novelty and cosmetic makeup tips you can begin to incorporate to protect your vision.
Tip #1: Do not use expired makeup products.
Similar to food, makeup does have an expiration date. The longer makeup sits, the greater its chances of forming bacteria or growing fungi. All makeup products have an expiration date on the back of their packaging.
Eye makeup, including eyeliner and mascara, should be replaced every 4-6 months. Eye shadow has a longer shelf life and should be replaced every year. If makeup has an odor, make the safe choice, and dispose of it.
Tip #2: Do not share makeup with others.
Sharing makeup is a sure way to transfer germs. Your makeup should remain your makeup only. Consider face painting with novelty makeup as well. Cross-contamination can be avoided by using single use or disposable applicators that are not ‘dipped’ into the makeup once the applicator touches someone’s skin. A community container of face paint novelty makeup should be avoided by placing a small amount on a plate and using disposable applicators for one student only. If someone is using brushes on more than one person, this is considered cross-contamination.
Tip #3: Wash your makeup off immediately.
Throw a specific product away if you notice any irritations forming in or around your eyes. Only use products intended for use on the face. Avoid things like glitter that can end up in the eye.
Tip #4: Try the makeup on another area of skin first before using on your face.
If you are decorating your skin with something you have never used before, you might try a dab of it on your arm for a couple of days to check for an allergic reaction before you put it on your face. This is an especially smart thing to do if you tend to have allergies.
Tip #5: Always wash your makeup off before going to bed.
Eye makeup, especially, should be removed before going to sleep. Any makeup not removed can get into your eyes causing irritation. Be safe and remove all makeup before going to bed.
References:
U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Novelty Makeup
Make Math the Best Part of Your Day!
No matter if your child comes home from school frustrated or excited about what they learned in math class today, it is important to make math the best part of your day. Why do you ask? Research suggests early math skills are a better predictor of academic success than early reading skills. Without mathematical literacy they are shrinking their future career opportunities. So how can we support and build upon their knowledge of math?
We can start with what Dan Finkel says are the "Five Principles of Extraordinary Math Teaching." They are not just for teachers, but anyone that influences the building of a child's mathematical knowledge.
- Start with a question. Ask your child questions about math. This way they are telling you what they already know, instead of you telling them what they should know. It opens up to discussions instead of just telling them how to solve a problem. "If we rush to an answer we are robbing them of the opportunity to learn.
- Students need time to struggle. We need to challenge our child and build their ability to persevere through real world problems. This develops their ability to observe and take risks, Which means not every math problem can be solved in less than 30 seconds.
- You are not the answer key. When you sit down with your child to help them, it is okay not to know the answer. You can work together to figure it out or have your child explain how they would solve it. Teach them that not knowing is not a failure, but the first step to understanding.
- Say yes to their ideas. By saying yes, you are listening to their thoughts and ideas. You are supporting their process and understand it might not look the same as when you were taught. By saying yes, you are not saying your right., but you are validating their thinking.
- PLAY! If you want to nurture your child's mathematical learning, let them play with numbers. Allowing them to do puzzles, board games, blocks/legos, and explore lets them grapple with mathematical concepts. What books are for reading, play is for mathematics.
With your help, we might be able to make math the best part of every student's day. Please feel free to contact us with any questions about your child's mathematical development.
Matt Dietzenbach (District Math Specialist) & Kathy Tofson (Elem. Math Coach)
Portage Center For The Arts
Public Library
Earth Day
During library, Mrs. Little talked with students about Earth Day and how every living thing leaves a fingerprint on Earth. All the students helped Mrs. Little leave a fingerprint (or 2) on Earth. You can see this hanging in the Library!
Bus ID's
Students will be using their bus pass to ride the bus again this year. This also applies to students who normally don't ride a bus, as we use these for field trips too. The pass is scanned and allows the system to track who is on the bus.
The school district began implementing a "No Scan/No Ride" policy for the school bus on March 4, 2023. This means that if a student does not scan their student ID, they will not be allowed to ride the bus. Please note that if a student informs the driver that they lost their ID, the student will be allowed to ride the bus that day. However, they must inform the school office that morning (or the following morning if the lost ID is discovered when boarding in the afternoon) and receive a replacement ID, to continue to ride the bus. Replacement IDs should be issued to the student the same day as reported to the office. In addition, a student who forgets their ID on a particular day (provided that they do not do so consistently), will be allowed to ride that particular day. Please help us ensure that students have their IDs on them everyday.
The Here Comes the Bus App is a free app that enables the user to see the location of your child’s school bus on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. The app allows families to see real-time updates of where a bus is along its route, to create a custom notification for when the bus reaches a certain point in its route and to receive notifications if there has been a schedule change. If you wish to sign up for scanning notifications of when your child scanned on and off the bus, the district code is 29776. The app is available from the App Store or Google Play.
PCSD Media Release
The Portage Community School District may use student photos, interviews, videos and projects for educational and informational purposes. This media may be used in classroom projects, district newsletters, newspaper articles, school websites, District-sponsored social media sites, (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.), and for general media purposes. Please send written notification to the Portage Community School District Gerstenkorn Administration Office, Attention: Communication Department, 305 E Slifer Street, Portage, WI 53901 if you DO NOT want your student’s photo used. * If your student is included in a photo or project as part of a large group or public area gatherings where the student is not clearly identified, that photo or project may be used with or without an opt-out notification on file.
Lewiston Elementary
Email: vanderschaafc@portage.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.portage.k12.wi.us/schools/lewiston/
Location: W11195 WI-127, Portage, WI 53901, USA
Phone: 608-742-2524
Fax: 608-742-2418